LOCAL BRIEFS: New Jersey team shows why it's best in nation

St. Patrick High came across the country from Elizabeth, N.J.,
and lived up to its billing as the No. 1-ranked boys basketball
team in the nation.

Wednesday night, before a standing-room-only crowd at Torrey
Pines, the Celtics finished their run through the National Division
of the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic, beating Newark Memorial of
Northern California 66-43 in the title game.

Michael Gilchrist led St. Patrick (5-0) with 25 points and 16
rebounds. Duke-bound guard Kyrie Irving added 22 points for the
Celtics, who are ranked No. 1 in the nation by both MaxPreps and
USA Today.

Sean Doyle of Cathedral Catholic was named the state football
coach of the year among medium-sized schools by Cal-Hi Sports.

Doyle led the Dons to their third consecutive CIF San Diego
Section Division III championship with a comeback victory over
Point Loma earlier this month. Cathedral Catholic has won 26 of its
last 27 games, with the only loss coming by one point to Lincoln in
September.

Doyle is the fifth medium schools state coach of the year from
San Diego County, and the first since Valley Center's Rob Gilster
in 2004.

Sockers stay perfect

The San Diego Sockers exploded for five goals late in the fourth
quarter en route to a 13-6 win over Revolucion Tijuana at the Del
Mar Arena.

Dan Antoniuk and Kraig Chiles each scored three times for the
Sockers, who improved to 7-0 in the Professional Arena Soccer
League.